Best place to buy ink refill supplies

[jn_brown]

I recently bought a Canon MG6220 printer and after only a few months the cartridges are getting low.
Rather than paying $55 for a new set of cartridges I have decided that I want to try refilling the ones I have,
I am an engineer and like to tinker so I don' t think it will be difficult for me.
I have been trying to find a good source for the refill supplies and found Octoink mentioned here.
I went to their web site and they seem to be the most legit one I have found.
I would rather order from the U.S. but don't have any issues ordering from the UK (I order bicycle stuff from there all the time)
I sent them an email with some questions. I got an automated response that they received my questions.
I guess with the holidays it may take them a while to respond.
Here is what I asked:

Are the orange clips to seal the exit port? I think I threw away the ones
that came with the printer.

Since the PGI-225 and CLI-226 cartridges are opaque can
they successfully be refilled? I found an article on your web site that
talks about using a toothpick as a dip stick. I don't mind doing this as
long as it can be done.

Are the used transparent cartridges a better idea? Have they been cleaned?

How many times can these cartridges be refilled?

How long does shipping take to Encinitas, CA USA 92024?

They are selling used transparent cartridges for a few dollars each. Would it be good idea to get these?
My concern is once they go bad I probably won't be able get them anymore and I will have to eventually use the opaque ones so I might well learn how to use them and get used to them.

Is it worthwhile to get a high accuracy scale? I have seen some accurate to .01g for a little as $25.
Is there a particular scale that is good for this?
I am guessing there is enough weight variation between cartridges that each one has to be filled and then weighed to get a reference.

I also want to mention we use the printer for general office use and not much for photographs so photograph color quality isn't a big priority for me.

Thanks

 

[The Hat]

Well no one can accuse you of not been thorough, very good first post.

I also shop in Octoink and youll find their advice reassuring and sound,
they will also have just about everything youll need to get started refilling.

There is also another site closer to home that is extremely well stocked and good to deal with also.
Youll find them here http://stores.ebay.com/PrecisionColors?_rdc=1

You may well end up shopping in each as I did that is why I can personally recommend them both to you.
You can refill your 225/226 carts its a bit fiddly to start with but the more you do it the better at it you get.

However if your use the semi transparent 220/221 or 521/520 carts you would be able to refill them that bit easier,
this can be achieved by swapping your current 525 chips over to the 521 carts (Very Easley)

The empty carts you get should all be OEM carts and they will last indefinitely with a bit of care
and it would be advisable to purged (Wash) out all the old ink and dry before use,
a scale can be helpful for the 525 carts but not essential unlike a chip resetter.

It wont be cheap to get started into the refilling but over a twelve months period your savings will be quite considerable.

 

[jn_brown]

Thanks for the recommendations.
I decided to order off Ebay from Hobbicolors.
I asked them some questions and I got a fast thorough response and they seem to have good reviews.
If it doesn't work out well I will try Precision Colors.
I am totally out of black and low on several colors so I needed to do something quick.
It seems these cartridges hold less ink than the previous HP printer I had.
I got rid of the HP because a lot of times it would hang and not print until I rebooted the computer.
I think HP driver software is garbage.

 

[fotofreek]

Thanks for the recommendations.
I decided to order off Ebay from Hobbicolors.
I asked them some questions and I got a fast thorough response and they seem to have good reviews.
If it doesn't work out well I will try Precision Colors.
I am totally out of black and low on several colors so I needed to do something quick.
It seems these cartridges hold less ink than the previous HP printer I had.
I got rid of the HP because a lot of times it would hang and not print until I rebooted the computer.
I think HP driver software is garbage.

Although I've never used Hobbicolors inks there have been reports on this forum that they are good. Precision Colors is in Canada and ships very inexpensively and quickly to the US. Like Octoinks, the owner of Precision Colors is a frequent participant on this forum and both are also quite helpful. Octoink and Precision Colors both sell IS (Image Specialist) inks that are manufactured in the US. Very few vendors will identify the source of their ink. Hobicolors does not identify the source, but their product has been very stable whereas other vendors have been known to change ink sources without notifying customers. It is good to know that the ink you buy today is from the same manufacturer as your previous purchases.

 

[turbguy]

I can vouch for HobbiColors as being a reliable honest vendor for DYE inks. HobbiColors Black Pigment "past formulations" have been found to cause clogging in the purge unit of some machines. Dave at HobbiColors did change the black pigment some time ago to help resolve the issue, but I have not had enough experience with it to vouch for it. Your mileage may vary.

Wayne

 

[ThrillaMozilla]

Rather than paying $55 for a new set of cartridges I have decided that I want to try refilling the ones I have,

Good idea. You already have the best cartridges available.

Since the PGI-225 and CLI-226 cartridges are opaque can they successfully be refilled?

Of course. The ink doesn't know that you can't see it. I suggest top filling, since most people rely on sight when they use the German method.

How many times can these cartridges be refilled?

It's a plastic case and a sponge. How long does it take to wear those out? If you get a bunch of dried ink in them, you will have to clean them out occasionally, so don't get dried ink in there.

They are selling used transparent cartridges for a few dollars each. Would it be good idea to get these?

Do you replace all your car parts with transparent parts?

Is it worthwhile to get a high accuracy scale? I have seen some accurate to .01g for a little as $25. Is there a particular scale that is good for this?

It's not essential, but it's helpful for knowing what's going on. Weigh your cartridges when they're new and keep records. There are lots of very good 100-g scales for under $25. And many really are accurate to slightly over 0.01g.

I also want to mention we use the printer for general office use and not much for photographs so photograph color quality isn't a big priority for me.

Then get a laser printer.